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Is Not Responding To An Offer Just Plain Rude?

Think about it in the context of a BUYER using the Audiogon system - 

1 - “Lowballers will be politely ignored.

What constitutes a lowball offer? Is there a percentage of the asking price below which the offer becomes a “lowball”? If so, what is it? 90%? 75%? ….Is it connected to or disconnected from the length of time the ad has been running?

2 - When the only option is “Make an Offer”.

What am I supposed to do here? Am I supposed to offer more than the asking price? Less than the asking price? If less is OK, then refer to point 1 above.

3 - When the only option is “Make an Offer” and the ad says “price is firm”

What the heck am I supposed to do with that one?

If you’re listing an item with the option of “Make an Offer”, wouldn’t it just be courteous to give the benefit of the doubt to the person submitting the offer, assume he or she is a serious buyer and not a tire-kicker, and just reply one way or the other, in a timely fashion? I mean, there’s nothing lost, right? Just say “NO”. Or make a counteroffer….what’s so difficult?

I just sold a nice preamp to a gentleman who made an offer on it, it arrived with the buyer safely and he’s thrilled with it. So now I have wires hanging loose in my system where a preamp used to be, and it’s almost the Holidays. I found a suitable replacement on Audiogon in the $7K range, made an offer within 10% +/- of the asking price, and…drum roll….….nothing. 

I sat around all weekend waiting for the seller to respond, but they didn’t have the decency to just message me and say no. So I was stuck with the “Seller has 48hrs to review your offer” BS, now I’m back to square one and without the means to play my favorite Kenny G Christmas albums. 

One bandaid fix would be for Audiogon to adopt the ebay system and allow sellers to automatically decline offers below a certain amount. Then they wouldn’t even have to interact with us lowballers and their delicate sensibilities wouldn’t get hurt…..heck, I’d even take a photo of me wearing a mask as I press the ’Submit Offer’ button, if this is a Covid thang…

Whinge over…

Merry Christmas :)



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norm's avatar
norm
52 posts
 
Without a responds from the seller, you are in a binding contract for 48 hours.  I like to see offers with a specified time attached.  This will prevent sellers to use offers coming in as leverage and tying up the buyer from making other offers.  
audition__audio
1,424 posts
 
I always respond to all offers no matter how low. A common courtesy. 
skenneth
1 posts
 
right now I am in the middle of a "make an offer" deal. Waiting my 48 hrs. I offered full asking price. Being my first experience at this I actually sent another offer $10 higher asking how the process works to get a status. No response on second offer 14 hrs later yet either.
Trying to understand if I'm in some bidding game without knowing it? I would think offering full price would end it? No?
What does it mean if 48hrs goes by with no seller response? Start again? Seems very inefficient!
bjesien
1,269 posts
 
Seems like a mix of interested buyers and audiophiles looking for advice lately. I've made some nice connections with some folks that share common objectives or brands over the decades. Some continue, some quickly split when you sell the kids. I'm grateful to be able to trade with this group here and on the Mart. 
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
right now I am in the middle of a "make an offer" deal. Waiting my 48 hrs. I offered full asking price. Being my first experience at this I actually sent another offer $10 higher asking how the process works to get a status. No response on second offer 14 hrs later yet either.
Trying to understand if I'm in some bidding game without knowing it? I would think offering full price would end it? No?
What does it mean if 48hrs goes by with no seller response? Start again? Seems very inefficient!

I have gone through all the mind games when people wait a long time or do not respond. Only to sometimes later learn there was a perfectly normal reason for it. Or maybe not. You never know. Until the goods are in your room and hooked up and running you just never know. This is true by the way for every transaction. Read the guy recently who bought a brand new Prima Luna that when turned on sat there and smoked. Plenty of so-called professional retailers are negotiation horror shows, treat customers abysmally, on and on. People are people. It is what it is. Still way better than I'll trade my cow for a goat and four of your hens.

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